Dale Earnhardt Jr. is giving his nephew the biggest break of his NASCAR career, but it isn't because of what he saw from him in a car.

It was in a ring.

When Jeffrey Earnhardt made his mixed-martial arts debut last year at a honky tonk in Charlotte and emerged victorious from the steel cage, his uncle witnessed a force of will he thought was lacking.

"That was really what got me really interested to know him better," Dale Earnhardt Jr. told USA TODAY Sports. "You can imagine how dedicated you have to be to the training. So I know inside him he has that discipline. That was the big question mark I had with Jeffrey was whether he had (that) type of motivation, and if he's got into MMA fighting, he certainly has that approach to his racing."

When JR Motorsports fields a No. 5 Chevrolet with CorvetteParts.net sponsorship for Jeffrey Earnhardt in Friday night's Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway, it'll mark another example of the team's commitment to showcasing younger talent.

But the Richmond debut of the fourth-generation driver (the second to compete in a NASCAR national touring series since Adam Petty) also will signal the thawing of a once-frosty relationship between Earnhardt Jr., 38, and his nephew, 23.

The surprise call Jeffrey received to drive for JRM a few weeks ago was the latest of increased interaction this season with his uncle (who texted, "Nice beard" after watching Jeffrey in a TV qualifying interview at Phoenix).

"We definitely have gotten a lot closer," Jeffrey Earnhardt told USA TODAY Sports. "It was a lack on both parts to really reach out, but it's cool. I really can't thank him enough for giving me the opportunity. I think the fans are pretty pumped about it."

Earnhardt will be racing at an 0.75-mile oval with plenty of family history. His grandfather, Dale Earnhardt, and uncle each have six wins at Richmond.

But there was a time it seemed far from likely Jeffrey would have a chance to carry on the legacy. In a 2007 USA TODAY Sports story, Earnhardt Jr. questioned the commitment of his nephew to running the K&N East Series for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

"He won't come around me because he knows I'll jerk a knot in his (butt)," Earnhardt Jr. said then. "But we're trying to make a race car driver out of him because somebody's got to keep this thing going. He doesn't realize what kind of future he could have."

The comments were pointed from a driver who already was familiar with having his commitment questioned.

"His focus wasn't where it needed to be," Earnhardt Jr. says now of Jeffrey. "I don't think he grew up anticipating to be a race car driver. So these opportunities are thrust at him, and he's thrown into these cars, and he's around all these distractions. Just around that time, too, he's just starting to go girl crazy. His priorities weren't where they needed to be, and that was the most frustrating part because that really was his chance. That was good stuff that should have propelled him where he wanted to go."

Jeffrey Earnhardt has run five Nationwide races in 2013, with a best finish of 20th at Phoenix.(Photo: Robert Laberge, Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

After ranking fifth as a K&N rookie in 2007, Jeffrey finished 15th in 2008, the final year for DEI, and his career stalled out. He made his Nationwide debut in 2009 but has made only 15 starts since.

"I was definitely a kid and not right on the path," he said. "I definitely didn't appreciate the opportunity I had enough. I don't want to say it was given to me, because I want to think I earned it being the driver I am. I definitely think had I worked a little harder for it, I definitely would have went about it differently. I like to think those days are past. It's all part of growing up."

Jeffrey also matured while training four hours daily in jiu-jitsu and other disciplines for two months before his MMA debut last May. He initially "wasn't sure I'd enjoy getting punched in the face" after a high school wrestling coach said Jeffrey showed enough promise for MMA.

"I was always training with guys bigger than me, rolling with guys 150-plus pounds," said Jeffrey, who is a chiseled 135 pounds. "It wasn't a lot of fun. The practices were the hardest part. The fight was the easiest. It was a big character-builder knowing how deep in the water you're willing to go to make something happen."

The fight drew national media attention, as well as the newfound respect of his uncle.

"Half the people were telling me, 'You're stupid to go do it, what if you get hurt?' " Jeffrey said. "You can get hurt doing anything. Yeah, it might be a bigger risk, but it might come out to be a huge gain. Obviously, it did."

Jeffrey said he had several offers to continue fighting but has put MMA on hold while racing remains the priority. In his first Nationwide race after the fight last year at Daytona, he was running fourth before being caught in a late crash. Limited by sponsorship, he has started five of six races in 2013 with a best finish of 20th at Phoenix International Raceway. He finished 22nd after starting 36th most recently at Texas Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt Jr., who often is asked by fans why he hasn't put Jeffrey or half-brother Kerry in a JRM Chevy, is hoping the team might find another start for Jeffrey, or a solid finish at Richmond might attract interest from other teams

"I'd sure like to see him get some opportunities," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I know somewhere inside of him is that mentality that he needs to be able to succeed in this sport. He's getting his head on his shoulders, acting a lot more mature and being responsible about his career. He's putting in the work."